DETROIT
-- Detroit
Tigers Manager Jim Leyland and team president, CEO and general
manager Dave Dombrowski addressed the Detroit Economic Club
(DEC) at a special meeting inside the MotorCity Casino on Wednesday.
Most of the coaches and the players were in attendance at the
meeting. Leyland discussed the team after its first 25 games
in the regular season. The Tigers Manager said he hopes video
replays can be used in baseball to settle bad calls by umpires.
In addition, Leyland said he will have the opportunity to keep
his job next year.

"It's
a very good, competitive team, but it's a matter of how long
we play good," Leyland said. "It has a chance to be
an excellent team. I think it's a matter of how long and how
well we play good. If you don't pitch well, you don't have a
chance. The league is very good. We swept the Chicago White
Sox over the weekend. They got beat by the New York Yankees.
We had a very good Spring. I think everybody got disappointed
how we started. We're not going to win every night. I appreciate
how you spend your hard-earned money. I believe we have a chance."

Leyland
was very exuberant during the meeting. He often tells a lot
of jokes and funny stories when he speaks. The Tigers manager
is often called "The Skipper" because he resembles
the character from the popular TV show, Gilligan's Island.

In regards
to video replays, Leyland said: "I want it put in fair-or-foul.
I'm on a committee. I don't want it to turn into a video game."

The
Tigers are off to an OK start so far this season. The team has
won 12 games and lost 13. Their home record is six wins and
six losses and their road record is six wins and seven losses.
Miguel Cabrera has 21 home runs, Brennan Boesch hit 16 home
runs and Ryan Raburn hit 12 home runs so far.

"We
have a good club, there are a lot of good players on this team,"
said Dave Dombrowski, President, CEO and GM of the Detroit Tigers.
"This club has a legitimate chance to win our division.
A nice blend of veterans and young players. Our organization
continues to get stronger and stronger. Since 2006, our worst
attendance wise was 2.5 million people. We look to have that
kind of attendance plus more this year."

DEC
President Beth Chappell announced that the luncheon has gotten
so big that Tigers alumni will be invited to attend next year.
Normally, one player or coach sits at each table. Leyland said
he hopes he isn't part of the alumni at next year's luncheon.

"I
am getting a little older, obviously," the Tigers manager
explained. "One of my younger players said something to
me the other day. He said, 'You're pretty old. This may sound
pretty terrible, but how do you want to go?' I looked at him
and I said, I want to go exactly as my father, quietly, peacefully,
in his sleep, not screaming and yelling like his passengers."

Detroit
Tigers Owner Chris Ilitch was the presiding officer. He spoke
on behalf of the Ilitch family. Tigers broadcasters Dan Dickerson
and Jim Price were the masters of ceremonies at the meeting.

"There's
something special about the start of baseball season,"
Ilitch said. "It's a fresh start, it's a new beginning
and endless possibilities. For our ball club, the big names
are back, but we also have some key additions. It will make
for a very competitive and fun baseball season. Also back for
this year is the 'Who's Your Tiger?' tagline. We all connect
in some way with each of our ballplayers. Countless times, they
are gaining victories off the field. One great example of that
is the Tigers Winter Caravan. It's become a great wintertime
tradition where our managers, our coaches, our players and front
office staff travel throughout the region by bus."

The
Tigers will play the Cleveland Indians from April 29 through
May 1 and then the New York Yankees will come to Comerica Park
from May 2 through 5. Detroit will play the Toronto Blue Jays
from May 6 to 9 and then two games with the Minnesota Twins
on May 10 and 11.